15 Easy Salad Side Dishes to Pair With Any Main Dish

Salads are a simple way to bring color, flavor, and fresh ingredients to any meal. So I’m keeping a few go-to easy salad side dish recipes on hand makes mealtime easier, no matter if it’s a holiday dinner, a weeknight family meal, or a picnic.

I enjoy making salads that work as a tasty side for any meal. Some are creamy, some are light and crisp, and a few even have a bit of protein to make them more filling. The best part is that most of these recipes are quick and use simple ingredients.

Check out these lists of 20+ Lazy Dinner Ideas That Are Easy to Prepare

Festive Harvest Salad

A fresh and colorful harvest salad made with crisp apples, juicy pears, toasted walnuts, and crumbled blue cheese, all tossed in a zesty spicy citrus vinaigrette.

Simple Ramen Noodle Broccoli Slaw Salad

A crunchy, tangy salad featuring crisp broccoli slaw, crunchy ramen noodles, and sunflower seeds tossed in a buttery vinegar dressing. Great as a refreshing side for any meal or gathering!

Cobb Pasta Salad

This Cobb Pasta Salad combines tender bowtie pasta with classic Cobb salad toppings like bacon, blue cheese, eggs, avocado, and tomatoes, all tossed in creamy ranch dressing. 

Italian Hoagie Pasta Salad

If you’ve got leftover deli meat in the fridge, this Italian Hoagie Pasta Salad is a great way to use it up. It’s got all the bold, savory flavors of a classic hoagie—just in pasta salad form!

Broccoli Pasta Salad

This Broccoli Pasta Salad is a creamy, crunchy, and colorful side dish made with tender pasta, fresh broccoli, crispy bacon, and a sweet-tangy dressing.

Smashed Potato Salad

This Smashed Potato Salad is a crispy, creamy twist on the classic—made with baby potatoes, fresh herbs, and a light yogurt dressing. Great as a warm or room-temperature side dish!

Baby Calamari Garden Salad

This Baby Calamari Garden Salad is a light and refreshing mix of tender calamari, crisp veggies, and a zesty citrus vinaigrette—ready in just 20 minutes!

Creamy Cucumber Salad

This Creamy Cucumber Salad is a quick and easy side dish made with crisp cucumber slices, a bit of red onion, and a simple creamy dressing that comes together in minutes.

Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad

This Mediterranean orzo pasta salad is full of fresh and simple ingredients—cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, red onion, salty olives, and creamy feta cheese. It works great as a side dish for dinner.

Italian Chopped Salad

If you’re short on time, this Italian Chopped Salad is a quick and easy favorite at our house. It’s an easy, fresh side recipe with crunchy veggies, hearty toppings, and a simple homemade zesty dressing.

One-Pan Winter Salad

This warm Winter Salad is loaded with sautéed veggies, tender steak, crunchy peanuts, and a tangy homemade dressing—It’s ready in no time and serves two. It’s the kind of salad that fills you up.

Shrimp Pasta Salad

This easy Shrimp Pasta Salad is creamy, refreshing, and full of flavor—made with tender shrimp, pasta, and a simple homemade dressing.

Cold Tortellini Pesto Salad

It’s a cold pasta salad with fresh veggies, and it works great as a side with something flavorful and hearty. Made with cheese tortellini and fresh veggies, all tossed in your favorite basil pesto.

Cheesy Taco Pasta Salad

It’s got all the flavors of a classic taco—seasoned beef, cheese, fresh veggies, and a little crunch—mixed with pasta and a tangy Catalina dressing that pulls it all together. It’s an easy cold pasta salad recipe that works perfectly as a side dish to your meal.

Amish Potato Salad

This classic Amish Potato Salad is creamy, tangy, and just a little sweet, with tender potatoes, crunchy veggies, and a flavorful mustard mayo dressing. Perfect for cookouts, picnics, or any family meal! Ready in just 10 minutes prep plus chilling time.